Effect of Graphene Sheets Embedded Carbon Films on the Fretting Wear Behaviors of Orthodontic Archwire-Bracket Contacts

Applications of nanotechnology in orthodontics: a comprehensive review of tooth movement, antibacterial properties, friction reduction, and corrosion resistance

Nanotechnology has contributed important innovations to medicine and dentistry, and has also offered various applications to the field of orthodontics. Intraoral appliances must function in a complex environment that includes digestive enzymes, a diverse microbiome, mechanical stress, and fluctuations of pH and temperature. Nanotechnology can improve the performance of orthodontic brackets and archwires by reducing friction, inhibiting bacterial growth and biofilm formation, optimizing tooth remineralization, improving corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of metal substrates, and accelerating or decelerating orthodontic tooth movement through the application of novel nanocoatings, nanoelectromechanical systems, and nanorobots. This comprehensive review systematically explores the orthodontic applications of nanotechnology, particularly its impacts on tooth movement, antibacterial activity, friction reduction, and corrosion resistance. A search across PubMed, the Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar yielded 261 papers, of which 28 met our inclusion criteria. These selected studies highlight the significant benefits of nanotechnology in orthodontic devices. Recent clinical trials demonstrate that advancements brought by nanotechnology may facilitate the future delivery of more effective and comfortable orthodontic care.

Graphene as a promising material in orthodontics: A review

Graphene is an extraordinary material with unique mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Additionally, it boasts high surface area and antimicrobial properties, making it an attractive option for researchers exploring innovative materials for biomedical applications. Although there have been various studies on graphene applications in different biomedical fields, limited reviews have been conducted on its use in dentistry, and no reviews have focused on its application in the orthodontic field. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of graphene-based materials, with an emphasis on their antibacterial mechanisms and the factors that influence these properties. Additionally, the review summarizes the dental applications of graphene, spotlighting the studies of its orthodontic application as they can be used to enhance the antibacterial and mechanical properties of orthodontic materials such as adhesives, archwires, and splints. Also, they can be utilized to enhance bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. An electronic search was carried out in Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library digital database platforms using graphene and orthodontics as keywords. The search was restricted to English language publications without a time limit. This review highlights the need for further laboratory and clinical research using graphene-based materials to improve the properties of orthodontic materials to make them available for clinical use.

Graphene-Based Coatings for Surface Modification and Their Applications in Fixed Orthodontics: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Surface coating technology can assist fixed appliances by reducing friction, improving antibacterial characteristics, and increasing corrosion resistance. The application of functional coatings composed of graphene onto the surfaces of orthodontic brackets and archwires has been shown to enhance their mechanical qualities. The objective of the current study was to carry out a scoping analysis of published recent evidence on the utilization of graphene as a covering material in metallic orthodontic accessories, such as brackets and archwires; Methods: A scoping review was undertaken following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Dentistry and Oral Science Source, and Google Scholar were searched between 2003 and 2023; Results: In total, 38 potential references were detected, from which 10 were selected for this review. These articles addressed the benefits of the application of graphene-oxide functional coatings onto the surface of archwires and brackets during fixed orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic graphene-oxide-based coatings provide improved surface characteristics (e.g., reduced friction and anticorrosive effects), antibacterial capabilities, and biocompatibility. These characteristics can increase the effectiveness of orthodontic therapy, improve patient comfort, and lower the likelihood of problems; Conclusion: Orthodontists should be aware of and comprehend the prerequisites for using graphene-oxide-coated archwires and brackets to fulfill needs throughout their clinical practice.

Application of Graphene-Based Materials

This Topic on the "Application of Graphene-Based Materials", which consists of a total of twenty-six articles, including two review articles, written by research groups of experts in the field, considers the most recent research and trends on the synthesis and characterization of graphene-based materials, including nanohybrids, intended for a vast array of high-demanding technological applications, namely batteries/fuel cells, aerogels, laser technology, sensors, electronic/magnetic devices, catalysts, etc [...].

The Use of Graphene Oxide in Orthodontics-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Graphene-based materials have great prospects for application in dentistry and medicine due to their unique properties and biocompatibility with tissues. The literature on the use of graphene oxide in orthodontic treatment was reviewed.

METHODS

This systematic review followed the PRISMA protocol and was conducted by searching the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. The following search criteria were used to review the data on the topic under study: (Graphene oxide) AND (orthodontic) ALL FIELDS. For the Scopus database, results were narrowed to titles, authors, and keywords. A basic search structure was adopted for each database. Initially, a total of 74 articles were found in the considered databases. Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review.

RESULTS

Nine studies demonstrated the antibacterial properties of graphene oxide, which can reduce the demineralization of enamel during orthodontic treatment. Seven studies showed that it is biocompatible with oral tissues. Three studies presented that graphene oxide can reduce friction in the arch-bracket system. Two studies showed that it can improve the mechanical properties of orthodontic adhesives by reducing ARI (Adhesive Remnant Index). Three studies demonstrated that the use of graphene oxide in the appropriate concentration can also increase the SBS (shear bond strength) parameter. One research study showed that it can increase corrosion resistance. One research study suggested that it can be used to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement.

CONCLUSION

The studies included in the systematic review showed that graphene oxide has numerous applications in orthodontic treatment due to its properties.

Super-Low Friction Electrification Achieved on Polytetrafluoroethylene Films-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators Lubricated by Graphene-Doped Silicone Oil

The novel proposal of Wang's triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has inspired extensive efforts to explore energy harvesting devices from the living environment for the upcoming low-carbon society. The inevitable friction and wear problems of the tribolayer materials become one of the biggest obstacles for attaining high-performance TENGs. To achieve super-low friction electrification of the TENGs, the tribological and electrical behaviors of the sliding-mode TENGs based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films and metallic balls under both dry friction and liquid lubrication conditions were investigated by using a customized testing platform with a ball-on-flat configuration. Most interestingly, a super-low friction coefficient of 0.008 was achieved under graphene-doped silicone oil lubrication. The corresponding wear rate of the PTFE film was drastically decreased to 8.19 × 10-5 mm3/Nm. Simultaneously, the output short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage were enhanced by 6.8 times and 3.0 times, respectively, compared to the dry friction condition. The outstanding triboelectrical performances of the PTFE film when sliding against a steel ball are attributed to the synergistic lubricating effects of the silicone oil and the graphene nanosheets. The current research provides valuable insights into achieving the macro-scale superlubricity of the TENGs in practical industrial applications.

Functional Surface Coatings on Orthodontic Appliances: Reviews of Friction Reduction, Antibacterial Properties, and Corrosion Resistance

Surface coating technology is an important way to improve the properties of orthodontic appliances, allowing for reduced friction, antibacterial properties, and enhanced corrosion resistance. It improves treatment efficiency, reduces side effects, and increases the safety and durability of orthodontic appliances. Existing functional coatings are prepared with suitable additional layers on the surface of the substrate to achieve the abovementioned modifications, and commonly used materials mainly include metal and metallic compound materials, carbon-based materials, polymers, and bioactive materials. In addition to single-use materials, metal-metal or metal-nonmetal materials can be combined. Methods of coating preparation include, but are not limited to, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical deposition, sol-gel dip coating, etc., with a variety of different conditions for preparing the coatings. In the reviewed studies, a wide variety of surface coatings were found to be effective. However, the present coating materials have not yet achieved a perfect combination of these three functions, and their safety and durability need further verification. This paper reviews and summarizes the effectiveness, advantages and disadvantages, and clinical perspectives of different coating materials for orthodontic appliances in terms of friction reduction, antibacterial properties, and enhanced corrosion resistance, and discusses more possibilities for follow-up studies as well as for clinical applications in detail.